Securing element for a tubular heater, fastening system having said securing element and washing machine having said securing system

Abstract

A securing element ( 30 ) made of bent wire for a tubular heater ( 2 ) of a washing machine ( 1 ), which comprises a first mounting portion ( 31 ) for connecting the securing element for the tubular heater to a mounting base ( 11 ) of a washing machine, and a clip portion ( 31 c ) extending upwards from the mounting base ( 11 ) with at least two opposing wire arms ( 32, 33 ), each one of the arms having four portions which come into contact with the tube of the tubular heater.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A securing element for a tubular heater of a washing machine, the securing element comprising a bent wire including:
 a first mounting portion for connecting the securing element for the tubular heater to a mounting base of a washing machine, and   a clip portion extending upwards from the mounting base with two opposing wire arms,   
     wherein each one of the opposing wire arms includes:
 a first contacting portion, 
 a first non-contacting portion following the first contacting portion, 
 a second contacting portion following the first non-contacting portion and being arranged in a higher position than the first contacting portion, and a second non-contacting portion following the second contacting portion, wherein the second non-contacting portion is arranged at a highest position of the securing element for the tubular heater, and 
 
     wherein the opposing wire arms include:
 a third contacting portion following the second non-contacting portion, and 
 a third non-contacting portion following the third contacting portion, and wherein one of the two opposing wire arms has a fourth contacting portion following the third non-contacting portion and arranged in a lower position than the third contacting portion. 
 
   
   
       22 . The securing element of  claim 21 , wherein each of the two opposing wire arms has the fourth contacting portion following the third non-contacting portion and arranged in the lower position than the third contacting portion. 
   
   
       23 . The securing element of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a spacing portion between the mounting portion and the clip portion and connecting the mounting portion and the clip portion together in such a manner as to space the clip portion from the mounting base.   
   
   
       24 . The securing element of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a second mounting portion on one of the opposing wire arms following the fourth contacting portion for connecting the securing element for the tubular heater to the mounting base of the washing machine.   
   
   
       25 . The securing element of  claim 21 , wherein one of the wire arms additionally has a fourth non-contacting portion following the fourth contacting portion. 
   
   
       26 . The securing element of  claim 23 , wherein one of the wire arms has a fourth non-contacting portion following the fourth contacting portion, and wherein the fourth non-contacting portion joins up with the spacing portion. 
   
   
       27 . The securing element of  claim 21 , wherein the opposing wire arms cross over each other at the first non-contacting portion and the third non-contacting portion. 
   
   
       28 . The securing element of  claim 21 , wherein one of the opposing wire arms passes between the first non-contacting portion and the third non-contacting portion of the other wire arm. 
   
   
       29 . The securing element of  claim 21 , wherein the first non-contacting portion and the third non-contacting portion of the two arms are bent away from the opposing arm so as not to cross. 
   
   
       30 . The securing element of  claim 21 , comprising a continuous piece of wire having a diameter of between 0.5 and 4 millimeters. 
   
   
       31 . The securing element of  claim 30 , wherein the diameter of the continuous piece of wire is between 1 and 3 millimeters. 
   
   
       32 . The securing element of  claim 30 , wherein the diameter of the continuous piece of wire is between 1.5 and 2.5 millimeters. 
   
   
       33 . The securing element of  claim 30 , wherein the diameter of the continuous piece of wire is 2 millimeters. 
   
   
       34 . The securing element of  claim 21 , wherein the opposing wire arms are flexible. 
   
   
       35 . The securing element of  claim 21 , wherein the wire is made of stainless steel. 
   
   
       36 . A fastening system for a tubular heater of a washing machine, the fastening system comprising:
 a tubular heater securing element comprising a bent wire including:
 a first mounting portion for connecting the securing element for the tubular heater to a mounting base of a washing machine, and 
 a clip portion extending upwards from the mounting base with two opposing wire arms, 
   wherein each one of the opposing wire arms includes:
 a first contacting portion, 
 a first non-contacting portion following the first contacting portion, 
 a second contacting portion following the first non-contacting portion and being arranged in a higher position than the first contacting portion, and 
 a second non-contacting portion following the second contacting portion, 
   wherein the second non-contacting portion is arranged at a highest position of the securing element for the tubular heater,   wherein the opposing wire arms include:
 a third contacting portion following the second non-contacting portion, 
 a third non-contacting portion following the third contacting portion, 
   wherein one of the two opposing wire arms has a fourth contacting portion following the third non-contacting portion and arranged in a lower position than the third contacting portion, and   wherein the tubular heater is inserted by sliding in an insertion direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of elevation of the securing element fastening a second end of the tubular heater to the securing element.   
   
   
       37 . The fastening system of  claim 36 , wherein the second end of the tubular heater has two tube portions, which are secured by the clip portion, forming an angle with the insertion direction of from 0° to 10°. 
   
   
       38 . The fastening system of  claim 37 , wherein the two tube portions form the angle with the insertion direction of from 0° and 5°. 
   
   
       39 . The fastening system of  claim 37 , wherein the two tube portions form the angle with the insertion direction of from 0° and 3°. 
   
   
       40 . The fastening system of  claim 37 , wherein the two tube portions form the angle with the insertion direction of 2°. 
   
   
       41 . The fastening system of  claim 37 , wherein the opposing wire arms flex relative to an empty position on insertion of the heater to secure the two tube portions. 
   
   
       42 . The fastening system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the tubular heater has a first end, and wherein a mounting base has a wall and the first end is fixed to the wall. 
   
   
       43 . A washing machine comprising:
 a fastening system comprising:
 a tubular heater securing element comprising a bent wire including:
 a first mounting portion for connecting the securing element for the tubular heater to a mounting base of a washing machine, and 
 a clip portion extending upwards from the mounting base with two opposing wire arms, 
 
 wherein each one of the opposing wire arms includes:
 a first contacting portion, 
 a first non-contacting portion following the first contacting portion, 
 a second contacting portion following the first non-contacting portion and being arranged in a higher position than the first contacting portion, 
 a second non-contacting portion following the second contacting portion, 
 
 wherein the second non-contacting portion is arranged at a highest position of the securing element for the tubular heater, and 
 wherein the opposing wire arms include:
 a third contacting portion following the second non-contacting portion, 
 a third non-contacting portion following the third contacting portion, 
 
 wherein one of the two opposing wire arms has a fourth contacting portion following the third non-contacting portion and arranged in a lower position than the third contacting portion, 
 wherein the tubular heater is inserted by sliding in an insertion direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of elevation of the securing element fastening a second end of the tubular heater to the securing element; and 
   a washing machine tub formed of a first half-tub and a second half-tub, wherein the mounting base is arranged in the first half-tub.   
   
   
       44 . The washing machine of  claim 43 , wherein the mounting portion of the securing element fits into the mounting base, and wherein a projection of the second half-tub comes into contact with the securing element so as to fasten the securing element in a mounted position in the mounting base. 
   
   
       45 . The washing machine of  claim 43 , wherein a mounting base wall is a wall of the first half-tub. 
   
   
       46 . The washing machine of  claim 43 , wherein a direction of insertion of the tubular heater is a direction in which the securing element is mounted in the mounting base.